2/10/09 - Detroit at Nashville: L 5-3 Final

Observations:

We had quite a few scary moments in the first PK....and Pekka had a couple lucky breaks.

I counted three rebounds from that first Red Wings goal. But that first save was A-MAZING.

Martin Erat with a short-handed try on the second PK; it was worth a shot. Jerred Smithson had an amazing save right before then too. And I said that as if he was the goalie, and for that moment, he kind of was.

Speaking of Jerred Smithson...he's gotta watch his mouth during games like these. We don't need one of our best PK'ers in the box while we're killing off his penalty.

If no one else, Hammer was playing physical during the first period.

Pekka was getting WORKED OVER. SOG at the end of the first.....NSH 8, DET 27.

The Smithson-Bonk-Ward line was showing some fight with just a minute left in the first. Thank goodness someone was.

Ummm, we did exactly what I said we didn't need to do tonight. We took lots of bad penalties. And our PK is losing its magic tonight because of that...unfortunately.

In the second, Pekka and Weber were getting PISSED. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE seeing that. Seriously, Pekka Rinne being pissed is like. the best thing since Erat getting pissy. That woke us up too!!!! Thank, God.

Radek Bonk on the PP actually worked?!? Who knew? AND Trotz put two defensemen back on the PP. Thank you, Coach.

JOEL WARD!!! That line was great.

Okay, I think Conklin got a little too comfortable with our lackluster performance in the first. We managed 2 goals on just 6 SOG in the second period.

We were way better defensively in the 2nd too.

So I'm pretty sure I spotted Teemu Laasko in the player's box tonight. Ummm, I'm not one for trade rumors before their time BUT....I'm waiting around for that Koistinen trade announcement anytime now.

That fourth goal hurt to watch...first seeing Shea miss the block and then watching it go in so easily over Pekka's shoulder.

Well, scratch what I said earlier; Trotz went back to one D on the PP in the third.

For a while, I think that fourth goal took the wind out of our sails.

However, Joel Ward was AMAZING tonight. That goal was ridiculous. He actually followed it all the way through unlike some other players.

Final SOG....NSH 21, DET 51....Pekka worked for his dinner tonight.

We didn't come out strong enough to win this one. Sure, we picked up play in the second and third periods but we need a full 60 minute game to win against the Red Wings. With that said, I'm okay with a loss tonight because past Predators history dictates that we generally suck it up hardcore after a win against Detroit. So if we can just get back on track come Thursday, Saturday, Monday; we'll be okay.

Thursday night, we face off against St. Louis for the first time since their 1-0 shoot out victory against us in November. That game was unbelievably frustrating to watch. I think we've managed to solve the majority of our scoring problems since then so I don't expect a similar outcome this time around. I have to wonder if we'll see another match up of Mason vs. Ellis or if Trotz will ride Rinne until he drops.

Puck drops at 7:00pm CST.